CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This non-provisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 108115914 filed in Taiwan, R.O.C. on May 8, 2019, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The disclosure relates to a bicycle head.
BACKGROUND
In recent years, riding bicycle becomes one of the popular sport, causing the bicycle market flourished. In order to provide costumers a better riding experience and a more stylish appearance of bicycle, the bicycle manufacturers pay more attention on developing new and market-oriented products.
For example, in a bicycle, a mechanical derailleur has been replaced with an electronic derailleur, and the electronic derailleur is driven by an electronic signal transmitted via a wireless manner, thus it is understood that the bicycle is required to equip with a circuit board, a signal transmission device, a battery and so on.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the disclosure provides a bicycle head. The bicycle head includes a head assembly and a control assembly. The head assembly includes a handlebar and a stem. The handlebar is mounted on the stem. The control assembly includes a casing, a first circuit board, an antenna and a battery. The casing is pivotably disposed at a portion where the handlebar is mounted on the stem. The first circuit board, the antenna and the battery are electrically connected to one and another, and at least one of the first circuit board, the antenna and the battery is located in the casing.
Another embodiment of the disclosure provides a bicycle head. The bicycle head includes a head assembly, a control assembly, a brake assembly and a switch assembly. The head assembly includes a handlebar and a stem. The handlebar is mounted on the stem. The control assembly includes a casing, a first circuit board, an antenna and a battery. The casing is disposed at a portion where the handlebar is mounted on the stem. The first circuit board, the antenna and the battery are electrically connected to one and another, and at least one of the first circuit board, the antenna and the battery are located in the casing. The brake assembly includes a main body, a lever clamp and a lever part. The lever clamp is connected to the main body and clamps the handlebar, and the lever part is pivotably disposed on the main body. The switch assembly includes a shift switch. The shift switch is disposed on the casing of the control assembly, the handlebar, the lever part or the lever clamp, and the shift switch is electrically connected to the first circuit board.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present disclosure will become better understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not intending to limit the present disclosure and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle head according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of a head assembly and a control assembly of the bicycle head in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the head assembly and the control assembly of the bicycle head in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a handlebar, a brake assembly and a switch assembly of the bicycle head in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the handlebar, the brake assembly and the switch assembly of the bicycle head in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a head assembly and a control assembly of a bicycle head according to a second embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the head assembly and the control assembly of the bicycle head in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a head assembly and a control assembly of a bicycle head according to a third embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a handlebar, a brake assembly and a switch assembly of a bicycle head according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a handlebar, a brake assembly and a switch assembly of a bicycle head according to a fifth embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view of the handlebar, the brake assembly and the switch assembly of the bicycle head in FIG. 10;
FIG. 12 a perspective view of a bicycle head according to a sixth embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 13 a top view of a bicycle head according to a seventh embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control assembly and a shift switch of a switch assembly of the bicycle head in FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a top view of a bicycle head according to an eighth embodiment of the disclosure;
FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control assembly and a shift switch of a switch assembly of the bicycle head in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a control assembly and a switch assembly of a bicycle head according to a ninth embodiment of the disclosure; and
FIG. 18 is a top view of a bicycle head according to a tenth embodiment of the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.
In addition, the terms used in the present disclosure, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present disclosure. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, where FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle head 1 a according to a first embodiment of the disclosure, FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of a head assembly 10 a and a control assembly 20 a of the bicycle head 1 a in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the head assembly 10 a and the control assembly 20 a of the bicycle head 1 a in FIG. 1.
In this embodiment, the bicycle head 1 a includes a head assembly 10 a and a control assembly 20 a, and the bicycle head 1 a may further include a clamp assembly 30 a and an electrical connector 40 a.
The head assembly 10 a includes a handlebar 11 a and a stem 12 a. The handlebar 11 a is mounted on the stem 12 a.
The clamp assembly 30 a includes a first clamp 31 a and a second clamp 32 a. The first clamp 31 a and the second clamp 32 a are able to clamp the handlebar 11 a. The first clamp 31 a and the second clamp 32 a are located at a portion where the handlebar 11 a is mounted on the stem 12 a. In addition, the stem 12 a is partially located between the first clamp 31 a and the second clamp 32 a.
The control assembly 20 a includes a casing 21 a, a first circuit board 22 a, an antenna 23 a, and a battery 24 a. The casing 21 a is pivotably disposed on and located between the first clamp 31 a and the second clamp 32 a. The first circuit board 22 a, the antenna 23 a and the battery 24 a are electrically connected to one and another and are all located in the casing 21 a of the control assembly 20 a. The electrical connector 40 a is fixed on the casing 21 a of the control assembly 20 a and located outside the casing 21 a of the control assembly 20 a. The electrical connector 40 a has two terminals 41 a opposite to each other, and the two terminals 41 a are electrically connected to the first circuit board 22 a.
In this embodiment, the bicycle head 1 a may further include a display 50 a. The display 50 a is dispose on the casing 21 a. The display 50 a can show the information which needed for the bicycle riding, such as speed and/or mileage.
Then, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, where FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the handlebar 11 a, a brake assembly 60 a and a switch assembly 90 a of the bicycle head 1 a in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the handlebar 11 a, the brake assembly 60 a and the switch assembly 90 a of the bicycle head in FIG. 4.
The bicycle head 1 a may further include the brake assembly 60 a and a fastener 70 a. The brake assembly 60 a is, for example, a brake lever of a mountain bike. The brake assembly 60 a includes a main body 61 a, a lever clamp 62 a, a lever part 63 a, an oil pressure chamber 64 a, a link 65 a, and a piston 66 a. The lever clamp 62 a include a first clamping part 621 a and a second clamping part 622 a connected to each other, and the second clamping part 622 a is connected to the main body 61 a. The first clamping part 621 a is fixed to the second clamping part 622 a, and the first clamping part 621 a and the second clamping part 622 a together form a guide hole 67 a therebetween. The handlebar 11 a is disposed through the guide hole 67 a and is clamped by the first clamping part 621 a and the second clamping part 622 a. In addition, the first clamping part 621 a has a first protrusion 6211 a having a first through hole 6212 a, and the second clamping part 622 a has a second protrusion 6221 a having a the second through hole 6222 a. The fastener 70 a is disposed through one of the first through hole 6212 a and the second through hole 6222 a and is screwed with the other one of the first through hole 6212 a and the second through hole 6222 a so as to fix the first clamping part 621 a and the second clamping part 622 a to each other, such that the handlebar 11 a can be held by the first clamping part 621 a and the second clamping part 622 a. The lever part 63 a is pivotably disposed on the main body 61 a, and the oil pressure chamber 64 a is located in the main body 61 a. Two opposite ends of the link 65 a are respectively connected to the lever part 63 a and the piston 66 a, and a part of the link 65 a and the piston 66 a are movably located in the oil pressure chamber 64 a.
In this embodiment, the bicycle head 1 a may further include a mount piece 80 a and the switch assembly 90 a.
The mount piece 80 a include a placement portion 81 a, a fixing portion 82 a, and an extension portion 83 a. The placement portion 81 a and the extension portion 83 a are respectively connected to two adjacent sides of the fixing portion 82 a. The placement portion 81 a is located in the guide hole 67 a and is located between the second clamping part 622 a and the handlebar 11 a. The fixing portion 82 a is located between the first protrusion 6211 a and the second protrusion 6221 a. The fixing portion 82 a has a third through hole 821 a for the insertion of the fastener 70 a. The extension portion 83 a extends outward from the fixing portion 82 a and is located outside the guide hole 67 a and aside the first clamping part 621 a of the lever clamp 62 a.
The switch assembly 90 a includes a housing 91 a, a shift switch 92 a, and a shift button 93 a. The housing 91 a is fixed on the extension portion 83 a of the mount piece 80 a, for example, via a screw. The shift switch 92 a and the shift button 93 a are disposed on the housing 91 a. The shift switch 92 a includes an upshift switch 921 a and a downshift switch 922 a. The upshift switch 921 a and the downshift switch 922 a are electrically connected to the first circuit board 22 a. In detail, one of the terminals 41 a of the electrical connector 40 a is electrically connected to the shift switch 92 a via an electric cable 100 a, such that the upshift switch 921 a and the downshift switch 922 a are electrically connected to the first circuit board 22 a. The shift button 93 a includes an upshift button 931 a and a downshift button 932 a. The upshift button 931 a and the downshift button 932 a respectively correspond to the upshift switch 921 a and the downshift switch 922 a. Pressing the upshift button 931 a is able to activate the upshift switch 921 a to transmit an upshift signal to a bicycle derailleur via the electric cable 100 a, the electrical connector 40 a, the first circuit board 22 a, and the antenna 23 a. On the other hand, pressing the downshift button 932 a is able to activate the downshift switch 922 a to transmit a downshift signal to the bicycle derailleur via the same path.
Then, other exemplary bicycle heads of the disclosure will be illustrated hereafter, the following bicycle heads and the bicycle head in the previous embodiments are similar but yet have differences in some aspects, thus the following paragraphs merely illustrate the difference thereamong.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, where FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a head assembly and a control assembly 20 b of a bicycle head according to a second embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the head assembly and the control assembly 20 b of the bicycle head in FIG. 6.
In this embodiment, a stem 12 b includes a first mount part 121 b, a second mount part 122 b, and an extension portion 123 b, where the extension portion 123 b is connected to the second mount part 122 b. The first mount part 121 b includes a clamping portion 1211 b and two pivot portions 1212 b protruding outward from the clamping portion 1211 b. The clamping portion 1211 b is fixed to the second mount part 122 b, and the clamping portion 1211 b and the second mount part 122 b together clamp a handlebar 11 b. Two opposite sides of a casing 21 b of the control assembly 20 b are pivotably and respectively disposed on the two pivot portions 1212 b.
Then, referring to FIG. 8, where FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a head assembly and a control assembly 20 c of a bicycle head according to a third embodiment of the disclosure.
In this embodiment, an antenna 23 c and a battery 24 c of the control assembly 20 c is disposed in a casing 21 c of the control assembly 20 c, and a first circuit board 22 c of the control assembly 20 c is disposed on a clamp assembly 30 c. In detail, the bicycle head may further include a casing 110 c fixed to a first clamp 31 c of the clamp assembly 30 c, and the first circuit board 22 c is disposed in the casing 110 c so as to be disposed on the first clamp 31 c of the clamp assembly 30 c.
Note that the position of the first circuit board 22 c is not restricted; in some other embodiments, the first circuit board 22 c may be disposed on the second clamp 32 c, or may be disposed on the clamping portion 1211 b of the first mount part 121 b shown in FIG. 7.
Then, referring to FIG. 9, where FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a handlebar 11 d, a brake assembly and a switch assembly 90 d of a bicycle head according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure.
In this embodiment, a mount piece 80 d is, for example, a clamp that can clamp and hold the handlebar 11 d, the entire mount piece 80 d is located outside a guide hole 67 d formed by the first clamping part and the second clamping part (e.g., the first clamping part 621 a and the second clamping part 622 a), and a housing 91 d of the switch assembly 90 d is mounted on the handlebar 11 d by being fixed on the mount piece 80 d.
Then, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, where FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a handlebar, a brake assembly and a switch assembly 90 e of a bicycle head according to a fifth embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 11 is a partial exploded view of the handlebar, the brake assembly and the switch assembly 90 e of the bicycle head in FIG. 10.
In this embodiment, a shift switch 92 e and a shift button 93 e of the switch assembly 90 e are disposed on a first clamping part 621 e of a lever clamp 62 e of the brake assembly. In detail, a housing 91 e of the switch assembly 90 e includes a cover part 911 e and an accommodation part 912 e, where the cover part 911 e is detachably assembled with the accommodation part 912 e, and the accommodation part 912 e is fixed on the first clamping part 621 e of the lever clamp 62 e. An upshift switch 921 e and a downshift switch 922 e of the shift switch 92 e is disposed in the accommodation part 912 e, and an upshift button 931 e and a downshift button 932 e of the shift button 93 e are disposed on the cover part 911 e.
Then, referring to FIG. 12, where FIG. 12 a perspective view of a bicycle head according to a sixth embodiment of the disclosure.
In this embodiment, a brake assembly 60 f can be applied to a road bike. A switch assembly 90 f further includes a shifter 94 f. The shifter 94 f includes an upshifter 941 f and a downshifter 942 f The upshifter 941 f and the downshifter 942 f are pivotably disposed on a lever part 63 f of the brake assembly 60 f A shift switch 92 f of the switch assembly 90 f is fixed on the lever part 63 f, and an upshift switch 921 f and a downshift switch 922 f of the shift switch 92 f respectively correspond to the upshifter 941 f and the downshifter 942 f.
In this embodiment, a control assembly 20 f further includes a second circuit board 25 f. The second circuit board 25 f is disposed in a main body 61 f of the brake assembly 60 f and is electrically connected to a first circuit board 22 f of the control assembly 20 f, for example, via a wireless manner. The upshift switch 921 f and the downshift switch 922 f are electrically connected to the first circuit board 22 f of the control assembly 20 f via the second circuit board 25 f.
In this embodiment, the connection between the second circuit board 25 f and the first circuit board 22 f is wireless, such that there will be no complex wired arrangement between the switches 921 f and 922 f and the first circuit board 22 f.
Note that the second circuit board 25 f is not restricted to be applied to a road bike or a mountain bike.
Then, referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, where FIG. 13 a top view of a bicycle head according to a seventh embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a control assembly 20 g and a shift switch 92 g of a switch assembly 90 g of the bicycle head in FIG. 13.
In this embodiment, a brake assembly 60 g can be applied to a mountain bike. The shift switch 92 of the switch assembly 90 g is disposed on a casing 21 g of the control assembly 20 g. The switch assembly 90 g further includes a shifter 94 g and a cable 95 g. The shifter 94 g is disposed on a handlebar 11 g, and two opposite ends of the cable 95 g are respectively connected to the shifter 94 g and the shift switch 92 g. The shifter 94 g is pivotable with respect to the handlebar 11 g to activate the shift switch 92 g via the cable 95 g. Pivoting the shifter 94 g is able to activate the shift switch 92 g to transmit an upshift signal or a downshift signal to the bicycle derailleur via a first circuit board 22 g and an antenna 23 g of the control assembly 20 g for upshifting or downshifting the bicycle derailleur.
Note that the brake assembly 60 g is not restricted to be applied to the mountain bike or a road bike. In a case that the brake assembly is applied to the road bike, the shifter is disposed on the lever part of the brake assembly, and the shifter can be pivoted to activate the shift switch via the cable.
Then, referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, where FIG. 15 is a top view of a bicycle head according to an eighth embodiment of the disclosure, and FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control assembly 20 h and a shift switch 92 h of a switch assembly 90 h of the bicycle head in FIG. 15.
In this embodiment, a brake assembly 60 h can be applied to a mountain bike. The shift switch 92 h of the switch assembly 90 h is disposed on a handlebar 11 h. The switch assembly 90 h further includes a shifter 94 h and a cable 95 h. The shifter 94 h is disposed on the handlebar 11 h, and two opposite ends of the cable 95 h are respectively connected to the shifter 94 h and the shift switch 92 h. The shifter 94 h is pivotable with respect to the handlebar 11 h to activate the shift switch 92 h via the cable 95 h. Pivoting the shifter 94 h is able to activate the shift switch 92 h to transmit an upshift signal or a downshift signal to the bicycle derailleur via a first circuit board 22 h and an antenna 23 h of the control assembly 20 h for upshifting or downshifting the bicycle derailleur.
Note that the brake assembly 60 h is not restricted to be applied to the mountain bike or a road bike. In a case that the brake assembly is applied to the road bike, the shifter is disposed on the lever part of the brake assembly, and the shifter can be pivoted to activate the shift switch via the cable.
Then, referring to FIG. 17, FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a control assembly 20 i and a switch assembly 90 i of a bicycle head according to a ninth embodiment of the disclosure, where a thin line between two blocks represents that two components are connected to each other via an electrical circuit, and a bold line between two blocks represents that the two components are connected to each other via an oil circuit.
In this embodiment, a brake assembly can be applied to a mountain bike. A shift switch 92 i of the switch assembly 90 i is disposed on a casing 21 i of the control assembly 20 i. The switch assembly 90 i further includes a shifter 94 i similar to the shifter 94 h shown in FIG. 15. The shifter 94 i is disposed on a handlebar 11 i. The shifter 94 i and the shift switch 92 i are connected to each other via an oil circuit, thus the shifter 94 i is pivotable with respect to the handlebar 11 i to activate the shift switch 92 i via an oil pressure. Pivoting the shifter 94 i is able to activate the shift switch 92 i to transmit an upshift signal or a downshift signal to the bicycle derailleur via a first circuit board 22 i and an antenna 23 i of the control assembly 20 i for upshifting or downshifting the bicycle derailleur.
Note that the brake assembly is not restricted to be applied to the mountain bike or a road bike. In a case that the brake assembly is applied to the road bike, the shifter is disposed on the lever part of the brake assembly, and the shifter can be pivoted to activate the shift switch via an oil circuit.
Then, referring to FIG. 18, FIG. 18 is a top view of a bicycle head according to a tenth embodiment of the disclosure.
In this embodiment, a brake assembly 60 j further includes a cable 68 j, and an oil pressure chamber 64 i of the brake assembly 60 j is located in a casing 21 j of a control assembly 20 j. A part of the cable 68 j and the piston 66 j is movably located in the oil pressure chamber 64 j, and two opposite ends of the cable 68 j are respectively connected to a lever part 63 j and a piston 66 j of the brake assembly 60 j. Squeezing the lever part 63 j is able to move the piston 66 j in the oil pressure chamber 64 j via the cable 68 j for producing an oil pressure to brake the bicycle.
According to the bicycle heads as discussed above, the casing for accommodating at least one of the first circuit board, the antenna, and the battery can be disposed at a place where the handlebar is mounted on the stem, such that the first circuit board, the antenna, and the battery can be arranged in a way having less effect on the appearance of the bicycle.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present disclosure. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary embodiments only, with a scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.